U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
CUC Rota Power Plant - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IX
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Subject:
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POLREP #14
Demobilization for now...
CUC Rota Power Plant
Songsong, MP
Latitude: 14.1366670 Longitude: 145.1358330
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To:
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From:
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OSC Michelle Rogow
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Date:
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7/21/2014
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Reporting Period:
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7/21/14 - 7/26/14
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
Z9D9 |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
OPA |
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Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
5/20/2014 |
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Start Date: |
5/25/2014 |
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Demob Date: |
7/26/2014 |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
E11903 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
1.1.2 Site Description
The Rota Power Plant Site is an active diesel-powered electrical plant where contaminated soil and groundwater are present. The contaminants of concern at the Site are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil and petroleum hydrocarbons in groundwater. The Site is located in Songsong Village on the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The power plant sits approximately 100 feet from the shoreline of the Philippine Sea. EPA addressed the PCB contamination by excavating the contaminated soil and shipping it off-island for disposal in 2013. The CERCLA (PCB) portion of the site was completed in July 2013. This POLREP addresses the OPA portions of the response action, aimed at addressing oil seeping into the ocean.
Operations at the site include the generation of power for the island of Rota, storage of new and used oil, and oil/water separation. The Rota Power Plant site contains four primary aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) as well as day tanks and drum and transformer storage areas. There are two oil/water separator (OWS) systems are located at the Rota Power Plant site. One rudimentary OWS consists of drums from which oil is manually skimmed. The system is located inside the main Power Plant building and drains to the north of the building into a pit. A second in-ground OWS is piped from the secondary containment areas of the ASTs and the drum storage berm located in the western portion of the property. This OWS can hold 2,500 gallons of oil and water and discharges separated water directly to a pit dug in the ground.
1.1.2.1 Location
Songsong Village, Rota, CNMI
Latitude: 14.1366670
Longitude: -145.1358330
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Release of PCBs and petroleum products to soil and groundwater. PCB contamination was addressed in 2013, and work was completed by July 2013. Oil releases into the Pacific Ocean are on going from a plume of contamination beneath the CUC Power Plant facility.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Oil has been seeping out along the shoreline along a 400' foot stretch for an unknown period of time. The source has not been able to be identified, although it clearly comes from the CUC Rota Power Plant property, through Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) land to the ocean. Groundwater wells installed on the CUC Power Plant facility are contaminated with dissolved and free-phase product.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
During this time period, the ERRS contractor decontaminated equipment, packed containers and demobilized from the site. The START contractor collected samples of confirmation areas. The last container of contaminated soils packed into containers were transported off site.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
In order to make final determinations about what soil is to be transported off site, analytical results need to be obtained. Because of the remote nature of the site, the last set of analytical on four piles of soil are still waiting to be received. Therefore, besides cleanup work for demobilization, there was not much else that could be done.
Also, weather (and possibly other factors) have impacted the frequency of vessels that are traveling to Rota. A number of them have been canceled and it is unknown when then next one will be. As a cost saving measure, in lieu of having the crew wait for analytical results or loading containers and having them sit, with excessive storage charges, OSC Rogow decided to demobillize the equipment and crew until results were received and vessels were back on a regular schedule. Usually, vessel traffic is ceased from November to March/April every year, because of weather patterns. But this season, the vessel traffic has become sporadic in July. The plan is to demobe and remobillize a more limited crew and equipment in September, if vessel traffic is consistent. The empty containers will be left on CPA property, but not within the Port lease, so that no demurge charges will be levied in the interim.
Soil remaining on site was covered with duraskrim, bermed and a silt fence was installed in a U-shape to prevent migration of material from the piles. Cleanup of work areas was performed and the supply container was packed and inventoried.
OSC Rogow met with CUC about the demobilization, fence repair work and soil storage situation.
A fencing subcontractor was hired and began work to repair portions of the fence that had been taken down for the trench installation. Work will continue after EPA demobilization and will be overseen by CPA (its their fence) and CUC.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
| petroleum contaminated |
soil |
80 cuyds |
012380932,012380926, 012380925, 012380924,
012380913 |
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| petroleum contaminated |
soil |
64 cuyds |
012380937, 012380931,012380930, 01238916 |
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petroleum contaminated
petroleum contaminated |
soil |
80 cuyds
16 cuyds |
012380915, 012380938, 012380934, 012380935, 012380919
012380920 |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
Remobilization when sampling data is available.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
- Subcontractor to repair fencing
- Remobilize equipment and personnel
- Load contaminated soils into boxes
- Sampling underneath soils for confirmation
- Restoration
- Shipping of samples.
- Decontamination of equipment
- Demobilization!!
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
Repair fencing
2.2.2 Issues
-This site is extremely remote and located on an island with virtually no services or supplies available. This presents significant logistical challenges.
- Equipment challenges have slowed operations.
- Archeolgical issues still require follow up
- Samples have been slow to arrive at the Mainland laboratory, therefore some soil sample data is still not available. EPA will remobilize to complete soil disposal work once all data is received.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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EPA will need to mobilize equipment and personnel to address remaining soil stockpiles. It is not cost effective to leave equipment on island.
40' container planned to go to Saipan. 20' container to stay on Rota.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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No information available at this time.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
CNMI Division of Environmental Quality
US Coast Guard
CNMI Coastal Resources Management
CNMI Historic Preservation Office
Commonwealth Ports Authority
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4. Personnel On Site
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USEPA - 1
START - 1
ERRS - 6
APEC - 1
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5. Definition of Terms
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No information available at this time.
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6. Additional sources of information
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No information available at this time.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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